Outlet box



Jan. 10, 1939. R z U 2,143,517

OUTLET BOX Filed June 16, 1936 RAY Z.HL/FF Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTLET BOX Ray Z. Huff, Jackson, Mich.

Application June 16, 1936, Serial No. 85,454

2 Claims.

This invention relates to outlet boxes and more particularly to such boxes with structure for readily supporting them with their open side flush with the surface of the wall ceiling in which they are placed.

In many States there are code provisions requiring that outlet boxes when installed must be flush with the finished surface. With conventional outlet boxes such a result is difficult to obtain. According to the present invention a supporting flange is connected to the box flush with the open end of the box when it is to be used in already completed surfaces, or extending from a portion of the box spaced from the open end when it is to be used in new building construction before the surface is finished.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a novel supporting structure for outlet boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting structure which may be secured to the outlet box in different positions according to the use to which the box is to be put.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outlet box equipped with a supporting flange which may be locked thereto in either one of the two predetermined positions.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a view of the open end of the outlet box according to the present invention with the supporting flange attached at a location spaced from the open end,

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one-half of a supporting flange removed from the outlet box,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the supporting flange secured to the box in a position spaced from the open end of the box for use in new work, and

Fig. 4 is an elevation similar to that shown in Fig. 3 with the flange flush with the open end of the box for holding the work.

Referring particularly to the drawing the reference character I indicates an outlet box of generally conventional form having conventional knock out openings 2. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 and more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, there are provided six bayonet slots 3 having portions extending axially from the open end of the box I and other portions extending circumferentially of the box I and are for the purpose of receiving struck out inwardly extending tabs 4 of the sleeve portion 5 of the securing flange 6. The securing flange 6 is in two halves each having three tabs 4 and is assembled on the box I by telescoping the sleeve portion 5 with the box I with the tabs 4 registering with the axially extending portion of the bayonet slots 3 and when the tabs 4 reach the inner end of the bayonet slots 3, rotating the flange 6 with respect to the box I to move the tabs 4 into the circumferentially extending portions of the bayonet slots 3. The flange 6 is then secured to the box I and held by the tabs 4 against relative axial movement.

When it is desired to assemble the flange 6 and the box I for new work they are connected as shown in Fig. 3 with the flange 6 peripherally extending from the box I at a location spaced from the open end thereof. The flange 6 is secured to an internal part of the wall or ceiling, the usual lath and plaster being placed over the flange 6 so that when the wall or ceiling is complete the finished surface is flush with the open end of the box I. In order to lock the flange 6 against rotative movement with respect to the box I each half of the flange 6 has provided on the sleeve portion 5, adjacent one of the tabs 4, locking tabs I. The tabs I are so disposed with respect to the tabs 4 adjacent which they are located that when the tabs 4 are in interlocking relation with the bayonet slots 3, each is opposite an axially extending portion of a bayonet slot 3 and may be bent into interlocking relation with its opposing bayonet slot 3. that with a tab I on each half of the flange 6 and bent over into a bayonet slot 3 as disclosed particularly in Fig. 1 that both halves of the flange 6 are locked against both axial and rotative movement with respect to the box I.

In Fig. 4 the flange 6 is illustrated assembled on the box I so that it is flush with the open end thereof. This position of the flange 6 is for installing the box in an already completed wall, that is, old work. When installed the flange 6 is flat against the finished surface. In this case the same flange 6 having a sleeve portion 5 and tabs 4 and the same bayonet slots 3 are used. However, with the flange 6 so assembled the locking tabs I will be inwardly of the open end of the box I. Therefore, tabs 8 are provided for locking the flange 6 against rotation, the tabs 8 being struck out from the flange 6 as shown particularly in Fig. 2 and by the openings 9 in Fig, l. A tab 8 is provided for each flange 6 adjacent a tab 4 and located with respect thereto in a similar manner to the tabs I so that when the flange 6 is assembled on the box I the tabs 8 may be bent over into the axially extending portion of It will be evident the opposite bayonet slots 3 in the manner disclosed'in Fig. 4.

It will. be evident from the foregoing description that if desired or found expedient the flange B may be in one piece rather than in two halves. The'flange 6 is secured in position by screws or their equivalents passing through the circumfer entially spaced openings l0. With the present invention applied to old work, that'is, with the flange flush with the open end of the box i, it will be apparent that a greater degree of fire proofing is obtained because the flange 6 shields the portion of the ceiling enclosed by the canopy of the fixture secured in the box I.

Having thus described my invention What I desire to protect by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising an outlet box having sides, a top and an open bottom, a plurality of bayonet slots in said sides having substantially axially extending portions extending inwardly from the open edges thereof and laterally extending portions extending from the inner ends of said axial portions, a substantially continuous peripheral supporting flange for said box, said flange having radial portions and a sleeve portion for telescopic engagement with said box, a plurality of tabs struck out from said sleeve for locking engagement with said bayonet slots for securing said flange and box together, and bendable means struck out from said flange bent into locking engagement with a portion of a' bayonet slot. 7 1

2. A device of the character described comprising an outlet box having sides, a substantially continuous, peripheral, telescoping, supporting flange for said box, said flange and box having mutual bayonet slot connections therebetween 1 locking them together, and bendable means associated with said device bent into at least one bayonet slot of said connections to lock said box and flange against relative movement which would unlock said connections.

RAY Z. HUFF. 

